Colossians
INTRODUCTION
A. Thankfully, history is filled with individuals who chose to make a difference, because they themselves were different.
In 1517, an impassioned Martin Luther posted on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg 95 theses against the abuse of indulgences. That single act precipitated the train of events that would result in the great Protestant Reformation.
Many years earlier, an imprisoned Apostle Paul penned to a church in Asia Minor 95 verses against the heresy later known as Gnosticism. That literary masterpiece would become the Book of Colossians and would direct attention to the fullness and supremacy of the One above – Jesus Christ.
B. Paul chose to make a difference because he was different – in Christ. Instead of shrinking back, he stepped forward. Instead of keeping quiet, he boldly spoke. Instead of saying “Not me,” he took personal responsibility. As he takes us through the countryside and over the hills of Colosse in this collection of 95 verses called the Book of Colossians, we shall consider:
LIFE IMPLICATIONS FROM COLOSSIANS
1. Influence Extends Beyond Sight
Some background is always essential before we move to the forefront. The first life implication emerges from the experiences of the writer and his relationship to the church to which he writes. The Scriptures never specifically record Paul’s stepping foot in the city of Colosse, just his interaction with some of its church members, one of which he identifies in 1:7. Epaphras was the principle teacher of the church in Colosse and, though he is presently with Paul, he expresses his pastoral concern for the Colossians later on in the book. Paul himself declares his lack of face to face contact with the Colossian believers in 2:1. A few of the Colossian Christians had met Paul, but the majority remained unknown to him. Yet even though he had never met many of these people face to face, he still had an audience with them. That reality presents us with the first life implication from the Book of Colossians – Influence extends beyond sight. Paul’s physical interaction with the Colossians was quite minimal and he was, according to 2:5, writing from a distance. Despite his lack of physical interaction and his long distance writing, he had an influence beyond sight with the believers many miles away. It may, however, not always be seen in this lifetime. Therefore,
“Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9)
Rest assured, influence extends beyond sight!
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17)
2. Teachers Have a Great Accountability
Before Paul departed from Asia, he called the elders or pastors from Ephesus and issued this strong exhortation regarding false teachers.
“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:29-30)
Paul’s first concern wasn’t for the deacons, but the teachers, and more specifically, the damage false teachers could do in the local church. This is the major purpose of the Book of Colossians – to warn the Christians about a heresy that was incubating and rapidly moving toward birth. Several years later, this heresy known as Gnosticism would be earnestly addressed by the Apostle John in his epistles to the church. But for now, this incipient and predominately Jewish Gnosticism was not about to be left unchecked by Paul. Notice 2:8. This heretical teaching involved the worship of angels, the exercise of Jewish legalism, asceticism, and other worldly principles of living. This emphasis by Paul throughout this Book of Colossians points us to the second life implication – Teachers have a great accountability. Because a teacher can have such an impact upon his or her students, teachers have a serious responsibility to adhere to the Scriptures and not their own opinions or speculations. That’s why the half-brother of Jesus issues this challenge in the Book of James:
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (3:1)
The local church must be very careful who she allows to instruct the brethren. Many a church has been brought low by the heresy propounded from the lecterns of her classrooms. Be very careful who is elevated to the position of teaching. For with it there is great responsibility and, with it there is great accountability.
3. Repetition is Vital
It has been debated in theological circles over the years the influence the Book of Colossians had upon the Book of Ephesians and, conversely, the influence the Book of Ephesians had on the Book of Colossians. In other words, the theological argument is advanced that parts or passages were borrowed from one book and inserted in the other. There is great similarity between the two books because the same man wrote them – the Apostle Paul. There were obvious similarities in the two churches as to the dangers they faced and the exhortations that needed to be heeded. Their resemblance is remarkable and points not only to the same writer but to the same period of time – some 25-30 years after the death of Christ. Why does God allow two repetitious books to be included in the Bible? Could it be for one of the same reasons we are given four gospel accounts of the life of Christ! This anomaly leads us to our third life implication – Repetition is vital. Since we may and generally do miss it the first time, God is patient enough to give it to us a second time . . . and a third time . . . and a fourth. If you were to boil the entirety of the Bible down and allow all repetition to evaporate, perhaps 25% of the Bible would remain. Knowing the lukewarmness, forgetfulness and waywardness of His people, our gracious God is longsuffering to stick with us until we get it right. That should speak volumes with those we work with who just don’t seem to get it. Stick with it until they do! Remember your Heavenly Father – He sticks with you! He remains faithful when we are faithless; and who, though so far superior to us, condescended to us in a stable some 2,000 years ago.
4. Make Your Lot in Life Count
The Book of Colossians is grouped with three other books that the Apostle Paul wrote due to their common place of origination – a prison. Hence, Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians and Philemon are typically classified as prison epistles as Paul pens these God-inspired letters to the believers. Each of the books evidence the reality of his confinement.
Colossians 4:10 “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you”
Philippians 1:7 “inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense … of the gospel”
Ephesians 6:20 “for which I am an ambassador in chains”
Philemon 9 “being such a one as Paul, … a prisoner of Jesus Christ”
The generally accepted place of his imprisonment or confinement was Rome. In Acts 28:30, we read of his detention in Rome. Perhaps it is best to say that Paul is under house arrest, not isolated imprisonment. If we draw the picture in our mind that Paul is in some dark, dingy, damp dungeon, than we have distorted the image. That is not to lessen or discount his confinement in any way. He is, however, living in his own rented quarters, albeit with a soldier or two on constant duty and in constant eyesight and earshot. This house arrest affords him opportunity, which he seizes, to receive those who come to him and to preach boldly the gospel of Jesus Christ. “Men may bind the preachers, but the gospel cannot be chained.” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, page 431). Also while under captivity, he pens the four prison or captivity epistles of Colossians, Philippians, Ephesians and Philemon. Paul’s availing himself of these opportunities to minister points us to a fourth life implication – Make your lot in life count. Paul didn’t allow his confinement to mute his influence for the kingdom. So too you must not. Whether you find yourself walking beside still waters or through the valley of the shadow of death, make your lot in life count and, by the grace of God, maximize your situation in life for the glory of God. Fret not over your circumstances; instead, look to the God of all strength and purpose to let Him live through you, even in your present lot in life.
5. Size Matters Only to Man
Are you not greatly encouraged that God does not see as man sees? While man focuses primarily, if no solely, upon the external ornaments of appearances and words, God looks on the internal adornment of integrity and sincerity. Life is filled with those whose internal adornment before God helped them to overcame the odds and make a difference. So too are the pages of Scripture as men of God depended on the grace of God.
* 100 year old Abram and 90 year old Sarai giving birth to a son
* The massive walls of Jericho falling down as Joshua and his men grab the victory
* Moses leading the oppressed Israelites out of Egyptian bondage
* Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego enduring a blazing furnace
* Daniel surviving a night alone in a den of famished lions
* Elijah’s decisive Mount Carmel victory against hundreds of false prophets
* The teenager David’s slingshot triumph over the giant Goliath
* Nehemiah’s monumental rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem
* Esther’s bold intercession and request of the king for her people
Odds do not matter when God is in the equation. What man perceives may not be exactly what God conceives. That leads us to our fifth life implication – Size matters only to man. How we size up the situation may not be how God sizes up the situation. How exactly does this implication pertain to the Book of Colossians? At one time, Colosse was quite populous and prosperous, but by the beginning of the Christian era, its reputation declined to a small town. Today, the mound which marks the site of Colosse remains uninhabited. At the time of Paul’s writing to Colosse, this city formed a triangle with two other cities, Laodicea and Hierapolis. Both of these neighboring cities eclipsed Colosse’s fame and size. Laodicea became extremely wealthy and was known for her glossy black clothe, which was highly esteemed. Hierapolis was known for its superior dyeing processes. Colosse? Known for very little! Yet, of the three cities, the smaller Colosse is the one which receives a letter from Paul and forever keeps her on the map of life. Size matters only to man, not God. If that were not true, do you really think our Savior would have been born in the obscure, small-dot-on-a-map town of Bethlehem, let alone die for unrighteous people? When we stand before Him one day after our life on earth is over, it will not be how many but how well – quality before quantity! Christian, keep perspective. It is not the size of the human but the size of the heart that counts. What size is your heart today? For it is that which matters most to God!
6. Beware of Surface Glitter
Glitter seems to make its rounds through the home of countless girls across our country. Whether its glitter in the hair or glitter on the face or glitter on the clothes, one’s attention is drawn to this sparkly substance. As Paul writes to the Colossian Christians, he is concerned about the glitter of the heresy which has begun to intrude on the scene. On the surface, it seems flashy and showy and appealing. Paul’s words in 2:4 confirm this concern. The glitter of Gnosticism was making gradual inroads through its persuasive words – initially offering everything but ultimately delivering nothing. Paul gives us still further insight as to its surface glitter in 2:8. This heresy of Gnosticism is focused on philosophies and deceit, mixed with worldly principles. This recipe for spiritual disaster ignites Paul’s concern for the Christians in Colosse and leads us to our sixth life implication – Beware of surface glitter. What may be seemingly scintillating can eventually show itself to be exceedingly empty. One of the facets of Gnosticism in its incipient form here in Colosse was the worship of spirit critters, according to 2:18. This superficial attractiveness with angels was luring Christians away from the One whom created angels and Who was their all-sufficient One. The false claims Gnosticism advertised would be a grave mistake for any who embraced its heretical teaching. Paul can not and does not stand idly by as this surface glitter clouds reality for the Christians in Colosse. Hence, Paul repeatedly addresses this distressing concern in his letter to them. Notice 2:23. Christian, beware of surface glitter. What may seem emotionally stimulating, mentally captivating and physically enticing may leave you with an empty cup – never satisfied, never enough. On the other hand, our sufficiency and satisfaction are to be found in Christ alone, where all the fullness of the Godhead dwells and in Whom you are complete” (2:9-10).
CONCLUSION
A. These six life implications can be translated into six life applications for you.
Life Implication Life Application
1. Influence extends beyond sight 1. Expect more than you see!
2. Teachers Have a Great Accountability 2. Watch what you say!
3. Repetition is Vital 3. Be patient in what you do!
4. Make your lot in life count 4. Seek contentment before change in your circumstances
5. Size matters only to man 5. Seek quality before quantity in your ministries
6. Beware of surface glitter 6. Seek substantiality before superficiality in your relationships
Should you not seek after contentment, quality and substance in your life before Christ?